Breathing underwater has been an interest of humans for centuries. Ancient drawings depicting underwater divers and thousand year old undersea artifacts such as pearls, hint to an almost instinctive interest in underwater exploration. In the 16th century people began to use diving bells supplied with air from the surface to sustain themselves underwater for prolonged periods of time. The bell was open to the water on the bottom with the top portion containing air compressed by the water pressure below. This allowed divers to swim away, grab something and swim back for some air without returning all the way to the surface. Later in the 16th century, full diving suits, made of leather, were used to a depth of 60 ft with air pumped down from the surface. Eventually in the 19th century Paul Bert and John Scott made two advancements that changed diving forever. Their studies helped to explain the effects of water pressure on the body and also contributed to improvements of compressed air pumps, carbon dioxide scrubbers and regulators, making it possible to remain underwater for long periods of time.
Work Cited
http://www.iit.edu/~elkimar/design/history/index.html
Wow, I cant believe that diving suits go back as far as the 16th century. I'm equally amazed that the suites they used were made out of leather. I would think that the leather would not resit water, or the stitching would not be tight enough and could possibly let in water. The pictures are awesome because they show how advanced the suites have become today compared the the giant bulky suites they used to have.
ReplyDeleteScuba diving is something that has always interested me. Maybe one day when I get a little money and get out of college ill take a trip and go scuba diving.
I am definitely a fan of scuba diving. It has always fascinated me how hundreds of years ago how people created these make shift diving devices. I once saw a picture of a man who had turned a sealed wooden box upside down and attached weights to every corner. Then he made a hole in the top and inserted a long reed and sealed around the hole with tar. He then walked into the water with the box over him as a make shift diving bell. Very cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt is cool to see that some techniques don't changed but rather used still. I remember reading about how marine biologist use a "submarine" like vessel to explore the ocean, like when they used the bell in the 16th century. But the advances in scuba technology now is incredible. Allowing a diver to reach some ocean floors an explore the ruins from sunken ships. Also, the science behind water pressure and the human body. Reading that reminded me of an episode from baywatch when a diver ran out of air and had to surface to quickly, risking imploding his chest.
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